SNAP
Statement

Statement by Joelle Casteix of Newport Beach CA, western regional director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (949 322 7434, jcasteix@gmail.com)

This victim reported his abuse to Catholic officials in 2007. His suicide happened after America’s bishops allegedly “reformed” in 2002 and after the scathing 2005 Philadelphia grand jury report. After all the promises by church officials to “do better,” it’s disturbing that this victim felt so distraught and hopeless that he ended up taking his own life.

At least two victims reported Fr. Gallagher molested them. Still, church officials claimed the allegations were “unsubstantiated.” This speaks volumes about how effectively church officials respond to abuse reports.

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 23 years and have more than 10,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)